Most common 2001 Toyota Sienna problems
Share of the 180 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Sienna complaints by model year
Best Sienna years: 2020, 2019, 2018. Years to avoid: 2005, 2006, 2011, 2008, 2007. Compare all years →
2001 Toyota Sienna recalls (2)
Structure
Toyota is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2010 sienna passenger vehicles manufactured between August 7, 1997 and January 4, 2010, currently registered in or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners with an interim letter initially instructing them to bring their vehicle to authorized dealers to inspect for corrosion. A second notice will be sent when the permanent remedy is available.
Structure › Frame and members
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front sub frame assembly has not been adequately welded.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front sub frame, if necessary. Owner notification began April 9, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
What 2001 Toyota Sienna owners say
Body & structure all 35 →
The driver's side rear sliding door has several times now refused to latch, and when in emergency situation I have locked it and forced it to shut then it will not unlock and it has to be taken apart to be opened and the whole latch and lock mechanism reworked by the mechanic, and in the meantime the door is unable to be opened which is extremely unsafe when I have children in the middle and back rows of the van. This is the third time in the past 3 years that this problem has occurred, so it is definitely an actual problem with the hardware of the door latch mechanism itself and not simply a glitch that occurred once or something.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the hood was shaking violently and unlatched from the vehicle causing the windshield to crack. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Locks & latches all 34 →
The passenger-side sliding door (manual) on our 2001 Sienna began having problems approx. 6 mo. Ago, with the inside button to open the door intermittently sticking - happened both in open & closed positions. Obviously a safety concern, both for being able to close the door in order to drive, and for opening the door particularly in case of an emergency. At the beginning, a good "whack" on the door would usually release the button, and the door would function. Now, the door is not working at all - thankfully, it is in the closed position, but it is totally non-functional as we cannot open it at all. Had one or two episodes of the driver-side door getting stuck open - the latch had a problem that prevented closure (seemed that the latch got into the "locked" position somehow when door was open, and then wouldn't release in order to close it). …
2001 Toyota Sienna le, manufactured in October 2000, both back sliding door handle buttons stick during hot weather preventing opening or closing of the door. If the door is open when the button sticks then you cannot shut the door. If the door is closed when the button sticks then you cannot open the door from the inside or the outside using the outside handle. The doors stay stuck until the button pops back out usually when the inside of the car temperature cools down. My children have been able to get out by going through the front doors of the van but an elderly person might not be able to do this and would be trapped in the back with both doors stuck shut. There is a service advisory for this problem dated oct. 27, 2000 for years 1998-2000 but there is nothing for 2001. …
Engine & cooling all 26 →
I have a Sienna le 2001. 118,000 miles. We have been the only owners since we bought it. We have no perfect record of oil changes but we have done it periodically. About 3-4 months ago, it was running OK, but it blew out white-ish/ blue-ish smoke occasionally (usually when first starting, it didn't seem to make a difference if it was hot or cold). It also had little and occasional power loss when accelerating from a stop. I took it to the dealer where we bought it, and they said they just took off the top cover of the engine and it looked like it was gummed up with oil. I have changed the pcv valve, I took it to a place for an oil and oil filter change, I am concerned the damage will continue to the engine. The dealer said I need a new engine, costing around $8000. …
The engine failed and had to be replaced at a cost of $5,000 due to oil sludge buildup. Traveling on I-4 from tampa to orlando the check engine light appeared then we heard a tapping from the engine,. I pulled off the road and aaa towed the vehicle and a rental car company picked us up. I had two elderly passengers (in their 80's) with walkers who had to traverse the grass along the interstate to get to the rental car and were nearly blown over by passing trucks. Toyota refused to honor a claim for repairs although they had agreed in a recent louisiana lawsuit to cover said repairs for 8 years from date of purchase. My failure was 8 years and 10 months from purchase. The sludge took much longer than 8 months to build up but Toyota refused to honor their stated commitment to assist all affected by oil sludge damage (over 3,000 complaints). …
2001 Toyota Sienna engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Toyota Sienna a good car?
Based on 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Sienna rates average: 36% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sienna at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Toyota Sienna?
The body & structure — 35 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › door. Next are the locks & latches (34) and engine & cooling (26).
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Sienna have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Toyota Sienna, the most recent from April 20, 2010 (structure). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Sienna?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2019 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2006, 2011, 2008 and 2007. See the full Toyota Sienna years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Toyota Sienna problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.